Three New Elaphoglossums from Guatemala

Abstract

In preparing a treatment of the Guatemalan species of Elaphoglossum, I have found that three of the 37 taxa recognized apparently are unnamed. This is a fairly modest number of novelties; the percentage will be much greater in Mexico, southern Central America, and the Andes from Venezuela to Bolivia. Because of the large number of species in the genus (over 500), the complexities of their taxonomy, the very few regional treatments, and the lack of a usable monograph, the taxonomy of the genus is in chaos and a modern treatment is sorely needed. Efforts to correct this situation are currently underway. Elaphoglossum apodum var. latum Mickel, var. nov. A var. apodo lamina late nec anguste oblanceolata differt. Plants epiphytic in wet forests, rarely on ground; rhizome short-creeping, to 6 mm diam.; rhizome scales orange, linear, entire, to 10 mm long; phyllopodia very short; fronds clumped, 25-48 cm long, 4.5-5.7 cm broad; stipe nearly lacking, to 1 cm long, less than 1/10 of the frond length, clothed with orange, spreading, subulate scales and minute, erect, glandular hairs; blade oblanceolate, base cuneate, narrowing very gradually to somewhat abruptly; apex long-acuminate; papyraceous to coriaceous; veins somewhat obscure, free, onceor twice-forked, ca. 1 mm apart, running at a 60-70? angle; hydathodes lacking; blade scales subulate, orange, especially concentrated on the midvein and margin, some scales on the abaxial blade surface, very sparse on the adaxial surface; blade also with minute, erect, glandular hairs; fertile fronds not seen, but ca. /2 as long as the sterile ones (to 13 cm long, 1 cm broad) in var. apodum, with linear, orange scales on the abaxial midvein, lacking among the sporangia; spores not seen, but with low ridges in var. apodum. TYPE: Along Rte. 5 between Semococh and La Laguna on road to Chajmayic, Depto. Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, alt. 500 m, 10 May 1942, Steyermark 46368 (F). PARATYPES: